Buttoning machine



1924 1,497 007 .june w L.. J. BAzzoNl BUTTONING MACHINE y Filed March 1 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet, 1

June 10, 1024. y 1,407,007

. L.. J. BAZZONI BUTTONING MACHINE Filed March' 1 1920 4 Sheets-sneer 2 `v sa June 1o, 1924. 1,497,007

L. J. BAZZONI BUTTON-ING MACHINE Filed March 1 1920 4 sheets-sheet 5 l WVM/Ufa I June 10, 1924. I 1,497,907

L. J. BAZZONI BUTTONING MACHINE Filed March 1 1920 4 .s-h'ets-sheet 4 Patented .lune It), 1924.

narran STATES PATENTV oEFic'E-ffif LEWIS J. BAzzoNI, or sWAMPsooTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASsIGNoR ToUVNI'TEn SHE MACHINERY CORPORATION, or PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON ING- MACHINE.

Application led March 1, 1920. Serial No. 362,543.

citizen of the United States, residing aty Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inv Buttoning'IvIachines, of which the lfollowing description, .inconnection with the accompanying drawings is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. c

rIhis invention relates to buttoning machines. The invention is herein shown by way of illustration as embodied in'A aA ma' chine especially designed for buttoning gaiters or shoe uppers, although, in many of its aspects, the invention is not restricted to such use. i I

In the manufacture of button boots and shoes, it is the general practice to button a sufiicient number of the lower buttons upon the shoe upper to hold the button piece and the buttonhole fly of the upper correctly positioned with respect to each other during the lasting and subsequent shoe making operations. After the` shoe bottom has been attached it is customary to button a number of the lower buttons of the shoe in order that the shoe upper may be properly fitted and held, as, for example, to facilitate the tree# ing and ironing or other finishing operations upon the shoe. Similarly after thev various making and finishing operations upon the shoe have been substantially or'wholly completed, it is customary tobutton the shoe in the packing room preparatory to shipping.

The requirements of various b-uttoning operations such as those above mentioned vary widely dueto differences in the condition of the work at different stages, affecting its presentation to buttoning instrumentalities and their operation upon the work, and to other factors such as the fact that differences in style as well as in size are of much more consequence when it is attempted to button all of the buttons of shoes in the packing room than when it isdesired to button only a few ofthe lowermost buttons, primarily, because the widest and most noticeable variations in curvature as well as in button locations .are encountered along the upper parts of the vshoe tops. Furthermore, the problem of organizing a buttoning machine to operate satisfactorily upon a shoe after V the sole has been attached is radically dif-fr4 ferent from the problemof buttoning a shoel upper.l in the fitting room.

The present invention has for ak general objectto provide a machine whichxmayl be. employed for buttoning gaiters or shoe. uppers and which'iwill be equally well adapted for buttoning'shoe' uppers before attachV ment of thesoles and for any buttoning operations which it may be desired or required to perform after the attachment of the shoe bottoms. In another aspect, the invention aims to provide a buttoning machine which will `be vrelatively simple and economical in operation, require a minimum of effortand skill on the part ofthe operator, and be ca pable of' operating on work of widely different characteristics` with aminimum of adjustment. i Toattain these and other general objects, the illustrative machine -is organized to but.- ton successively all or as many of the but-f tons of ashoe upper or shoe as may be. desired, the construction and arrangement herein shown being such that either right or left shoes or shoeuppers may be buttoned interi ch'angeably withoutithenecessity of any adjustment to adapt the machine for rights or lefts, or` vice versa. YI-hisV organization permits theuse` of a single 'set lof work handling and buttoning instrumentalities, thereby. obl via'tingy the necessity 'ofcomplicated' and ex-r pensive sets of instrumentalities foreach buttoninggoperation as in the case of machines which perform a pluralityof Abuttoning operations simultaneously and-similarly eliminating the necessity of complicated adjustments of the different sets of instrumentalities for .work of different characteristics.. At the same time, the illustrated construction and arrangement provide for biittoning.. without especial adjustment of the machinev any number of buttons beginning with either the lowermost or the topmost button.

In accordance with other important fea-# tures of the invention claimed in a copending divisional application, y Serial `No. 704,519, filed April 5, 1924, the illustrative machine operates automatically, requiring no substantial care or attention on the part of the operator from the time that a piece of work is introduced into the machine until the work has been discharged fromthe chine. To increase the capacity of thema- .1 www, 3252;,

chine and to enable the operator to introduce or prepare to introduce a succeeding gaiter or shoe upper before the completion of the operation upon a gaiter or shoe upper, the illustrative machine is organized to stop automatically after any desired predetermined number of buttoning` operations have been performed. Preferably also, and as shown, the machine is provided with means for automatically resetting the mechanism which controls the automatic stopping of the machine such that until the controlling mechanism is readjusted, in the continued operation of the machine it will perform automatically in succession like series of buttoning operations.

Other features of the invention consist in novel means for feeding and positioning the button piece and buttonhole fly of a gait-er or shoe upper for the buttoning operations, and in novel means for preparing the buttonholes to facilitate the entrance of buttons therein and for relatively manipulating the buttons and buttonhole fly to effect the passage of the buttons through the buttonholes, as well as in means for min` imizing the tension on the work.

Although the invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine designed to pass buttons successively through their buttonholes, it is to be understood that various features of the invention are not limited in applicability to machines of this type, but may be employed in machines of other types, including machines for buttoning a plurality of buttons substantially simultaneously. It is intended, therefore, that the scope of the claims shall be limited only as required by the prior art.

Thesey and other objects and features of the invention, including features relating to various combinations and arrangements of parts, will be apparent from the following description and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a View in plan of a machine according to the invention, parts being broken away to reveal the operating mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the buttoning instrumentalities looking from the front of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view of the buttoning instrumentalities and the operating mechanism therefor seen from the rear of such instrumentalities Fig. 41 is a detail view of the buttoning instrumentalities taken from the front of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the buttoning instrumentalities with the parts in position to begin the feeding of a button and the buttonhole ily;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing he parts substantially at the end of the operation of feeding the button and the buttonhole fly;

Fig. 7 is a detail of the button guide and the button feeder;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the buttoning instrumentalities in the positions which they occupy at the completion of a buttoning operation;

Fig. 9 is a view of the mechanism shown in F 8, looking from the rear and showing the parts in the positions they assume just previous to the passing of a button on a button piece into the corresponding buttonhole of the buttonhole fly;

Fig. l() is a view of the buttoning instrumentalities looking from the front of the machine and showing the parts at the end of the operation of feeding the buttonhole fly;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing the parts in the positions they occupy upon the' passing of a button through abuttonhole;

Fig. 12 illustrates the operating mechanism for the buttoning instrumentalities which includes a clutch and controlling means for the clutch constructed to discontinue the operation of such instrumentalities after the performance of a predetermined number of buttoning operations;

Fig. 13 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12 including the clutch controlling means; and

Fig. 14. shows the clutch controlling means looking in the opposite direction.

rFhe illustrated machine comprises generally buttoning instrumentalities designed to perform a series of buttoning operations one after another for inserting the buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole Hy and operating mechanism for the buttoning instrumentalities constructed to discontinue the operation of such instrumentalities after the performance of a predetermined number of buttoning operations. The buttoning instrumentalities, as shown, are particularly adapted for operation on the button piece and buttonhole ily of a shoe.

The machine frame comprises a bottom plate 2, see Fig. 12, provided with upright standards 4, to which is pivoted a cover plate or table 6 which carries the buttoning instrumentalities. A shell (not shown) interposed between the table 6 and bottom plate 2 encloses the operating mechanism of the machine.

ln the illustrated construction, the buttoning instrumentalities include a button guide 8 having a curved slot 10, the curvature of which preferably approximates the average curvature of the lines defined by the buttons on the button pieces of the shoes to be operated upon. The slot 10 is made of a length to receive all of the buttons on a inet/,007

button piece so that no manipulation of the buttons or of the button piece by the operator is necessary after the machine is started.

,Thev button guide 8 is formed with a loop 11 communicating with the slot 10 and affording means whereby the buttons on abutton piece may be introduced into the guide. The introduction of the buttons on a button piece into the slot of the guide is further facilitated 'by inclining the guide upwardly fromits delivery end to the loop 11.. The guide 8 is formed ne'ar its delivery end with a depressed portion 12 (see Fig. e.) for a purpose which will be hereinafter' erplained in connection with the description of the operation of the machine.

Means is provided for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, and, in the illustrated exemplification of the invention, such means comprises a plate 13 formed integrally with the outer wall 14 of the button guide. see Fig. 3, and having an upwardly extending portion secured by a nut 215 to a stud'15 in a yoke 1G extending upwardly and forwardly from the cover plate 6. The plate ,13 is so disposed as to position the buttonhole `fly substantially at right angles to the plane of the guide 8, by which is meant a plane passing' through the guide at right angles to the axes of the buttons in the slot 10. from which it follows that the buttonhole fly is also positioned substantially parallel to the axes of the buttons in the guide.

(lo-operating with the button guide 8 at the delivery end ofthe slot l() are means for passing the buttons in the guide into the buttonholes of a buttonhole iiy and means for controlling the buttonhole fly during the insertion of the buttons into the buttonholes. As shown, a pusher 1T movable angularly of the slot 10 of the 'button guide. and supported' in its movement by said guide, operates to pass the buttons into the buttonholes, and the controlling means for the buttonhole fly comprises fingers 18 and 19 disposed for engagement with the fly at opposite sides of a buttonhole presented in position to receive a button from the button guide. Although, in the illustrated construction, the pusher 17 is moved in a path oblique to the slot 10 of the button guide, it isevident that, if desired, it may be moved at right angles to such slot without departing from the principles of the invention. The lingers 18 and 19, by engagement with the Hy on opposite sides of a buttonhole, serve to restrain the fly from movement in the direction of movement of a button in entering the buttonhole. 'The button pusher 1T is beveled at 2T' for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Preferably, the buttonhole into which a buttonI is to be passed from the button guide is opened to facilitate the insertion of the button. To this end, the finger 18 is'disposed to co-act with the outer wall 14 of the guide to maintain the portion of the buttonhole fiy rearwardly of the buttonhole stationary while the forward edge of they buttonhole and the material around the buttonhole are moved transversely of the fly across the delivery end of the slot 10.` Preferably, and as shown, the transverse movement of the forward edge of the buttonhole is effected by the finger 19 in con# junction with a member 2O normally dis. posed across the end of the slot 10 but mounted for yielding movement away from the slot, the ngers 18 and 19 being so operated that the finger 18 is allowed to remain stationary after it has gripped the fly against the button guide while the movement of the linger 19 is continued to thrust the forward edge of the buttonhole and the member 2O across the slot. The opening of the butto-nholes by movement of one of their edges transversely of the buttonhole fly possesses manifest advantages in thatthe 'bluttonholes may thereby be opened easily and without appreciable strain on their edges,` whereas the opening of' a buttonhole by pushing back the edges of the buttonhole in the plane of the Hy requires the exertion of a substantial force which imposes a correspondingly great strain on the edges of the buttonholes with consequent danger of tearin g them. The finger 18 preferably contacts with the buttonhole fly at a point spaced from the edge of a butto-nhole 'as indicated in Fig. 10, whereas the fingerl) is disposed to project slightly across the buttonhole opening. This arrangement of the fingers permits the rear edges ofthe buttonhole to fiex outwardly to facilitate the insertion of a button inte the buttonhole, and insures the Complete opening of the buttonhole com# mensurate with the extent of 'movement of the finger 19. The manner of engagement of the finger 19 with the buttonhole fly not only causes the edge of the buttonhole to be pushed back to the full limit of movement of the finge-r thus opening the buttonhole to the maximum degree, but prevents injury to the fly such as might ensue. if the linger was spaced from the edge of the buttonhole,.by the bending of the edgel of the buttonhole about the finger by the button in its passage into the buttonhole.

in the illustrated constructionl is embodied a simple` and convenient means for operating the fingers 18 and 19', the finger 18 being pivoted between ears 22 on' the/finger 19 which, in turn. has its hub 23 fulcrumed on the stud 'l5 of the yoke r1G. Projecting rearwardly from the hub 23 of the linger 19 an arm 28 connected by a link 30 with a lever fulcrumed at 34 to an upright 36 on the bottoni plate 2 and deriving its motion from a roll 38 operated by al path cam 40 on the cam shaft 41 journaled in uprights on the bottom plate. A spring` 42 connected to a rearward extension 44 of the finger 18 and to a lug 46 projecting` from the hub 23 of the finger 19 causes the linger 18. to partake normally of the movements of the finger 19, but permits the movement of the linger 18 to be discontinued after it has gripped the buttonhole piece against the button guide while the movement of the finger 19 is continued to open the buttonhole. The member 2G is preferably formed integrally with a lever 48, also fulcrumed on the stud shaft 15, and a spring 5l) seated in opposed recesses formed in an enlarged portion of the lever 48 and in the forward side of the leg 49 of the yoke 16 respectively acts to project the member 2O normally across the end of the slot 10 of the guide, the movement of the lever 48 Linder the impulse of said spring being limited by the engagement of an arm 52 upstanding from the hub of the lever with a lug on the forward side of the yoke 1G. The arm 52 is preferably formed so as to facilitate its manipulation by the hand of the operator to shift the member 2O away from 'the slot 10 thus enabling the operator to withdraw the buttons from the delivery end of the slot whenever desired.

The provision of guiding means for the buttonhole fly disposed to position it substantially at right angles to the plane of the button guide and the construction and arrangement of the pusher 17 and the means for controlling thebuttonhole fly and opening the buttonholes enables the lower button on a button piece, sometimes referred to herein as the throat7 button, to be buttoned readily and reliably. "With this construction, the buttonhole fly does not have to be drawn up over the button guide so as to locate the buttonhole over the button which would render it diliicult, if not impossible to present the buttonhole contiguous to the throat in proper position to receive the throat button. On the contrary, a buttonhole when in button receiving position is disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the button. Such disposition of the buttonhole can be accomplished with the exertion of little tension on the buttonhole fly even when the. buttonhole is located at a short distance only from the throat of a shoe. The buttoning operation is further facilitated by inclining the outer wall 14 of the button guide inwardly to form a pointed end on the wall, disposed rearwardly of thel end of the inner wall of the guide. 4Such a construction reduces to a minimum the er:- tent of movement of the forward edge of a buttonhole necessary to open the buttonhole. This is of particular importance with respect to the buttoning of the throat button, Since the portion of the buttonhole fly forwardly of the buttonhole can be flexed to a limited degree only inasmuch as it is confined on one side by its connection to the buttonliole fly above and below the buttonhole and on the other side by the seam which secures the fly to the vamp of the shoe. vThe guide 18 for the buttonhole fly follows substantially the contour of the outer edge of the wall 14, and the heads of the buttons overlie the upper surfaces of the walls of the button guide for some distance from the slot of the guide. The guide 13 is, however, prevented from interfering with the heads of the buttons by the provision of a slotl 57 see Figs. 4 and 9, between the forward end of the guide 18 and the wall 14 of the button guide, into which the lower portions of 'the outer sides of the butt-ons may project as they pass along the button guide.

ln order to locate the buttons successively for insertion by the pusher 17 and to present the buttonholes of the buttonhole fly in button receiving position intermediate between the paths of movement of the lingers 18 and 19, means is provided for feeding the buttons and the buttonhole fly. Preferably, and as shown, the button feeding means comprises a lever 58 pivoted on a stud shaft 6() joui-nailed in bearings 63 and 64 extending upwardly from an arm 65 pivoted in a bracket 266 on the table G and a yoke 267 depending from said table. The forward end of the lever 58 is normally pressed downwardly on the guide by a spring 66 interposed between a lug 68 projecting rearwardly from the hub of the lever 58 and the arm 65 intermediate between the bearings 63 and 64 The forward end of the button feeding lever 58 is preferably recessed, see Fig. 7, to correspond substantially with the upper surface of a round-headed button and is also curved upwardly at the rear of the button engaging recess as indicated at 169 for engagement by the beveled surface 277 of the pusher 17 to disengage the button feeder from the head of a button prior to its engagement by the pusher.

The feeding means for the buttonhole fly is also preferably operated from the arm 65 and comprises a finger 70 pivotally secured by a stud 71 to the under side of an angular extension 72 of the stud shaft 60 and normally pressed against the outer surface of the fly by a leaf spring 74. The arm 65 is operated forwardly and rearwardly toward and from the delivery end of the slot 1() of the button guide. Upon the rearward movement of the arm, the recessed end of the button feeder 58 snaps over the top of the next button to be fed, and the linger 70 engages the buttonhole adjacent to that in which a button has just been inserted. In order to insure that the finger 7 O will enter the buttonhole on its rearward movement, controlling means for the finger is provided constructed to aline the finger' with the expanded portions of'the buttonholes nearest the edge of the buttonhole fly. As shown, such means comprises a plate 76 secured to the extension 72 adjacent to the stud 71 and having fins 78 and 80 depending from each lside of its forward end for engagement with the outer and inner surfaces of the button hole fly respectively. The fin 80, as will appear from F ig. 9 of the drawings, spaces the inner surface of the buttonhole fly slightly away from the button guide 8, thus causing the inner hooked end of the finger 70 which is adapted to contact with the guide to project beyond the inner surface of the buttonhole ily so as firmly to engage the buttonholes of the fly. The guiding plate 13 is spaced from the outer wall 14: of the button guide forwardly of the rearward limit of movement of the finger 70 by reason of the provision of the slot 57, Figs. 3 and 4, and the feeding finger in its rearward movement when there is no work in the machine rides on'the upper edge of the wall lil. The finger 7() is received in a slot formed in the plate 7 6 forwardly ofthe fin 7 8, the plate being constructed to act as a stop for limiting the inward movement of the finger 70 thereby preventing the finger from becoming jammed in the slot l57. A spring 81 coiled about the stud shaft tends to ro ltate said shaft and to urge the freer end of the plate 7 6 downwardly upon the edge of the buttonhole fly.v Accordingly, inasmuch as the buttonholes are spaced substantially uniformly from the edge of the buttonhole piece, the plate 7 6 will always position the finger 0 accurately relatively to the buttonholes.

When a buttonhole is in button, receiving position, its upper edge should be a little above the vcrown of the' button. If, however, it was endeavored tofdispose the buttonhole adjacent to the throat at ythe level of vthe head of the corresponding button prior to the feeding of the buttonhole fly, see 1, the end of the outer wall 141 of the button guide would either engage the shoe across the seam between the button piece and the vamp or the button piece close to the seam, depending upon the distance by which the button and buttonhole were spaced from the.- seam. In either case, the portion of the shoe contacting with the wall 14 would not flex readily, thus making it difficult or impossible fully to elevate the buttonhole. Because of these considerations and with a view further to facilitate the feeding of the buttonhole fly, it is positioned normally with the upper edges of the buttonholes below the tops of the heads of the buttons, as seen in Fig. 4, and, in order to present the buttonyholes in proper button receiving position,

the buttonhole fly is raised subsequent to or during the final part ofits feeding movement. The raising of the buttonhole adjacent to the throat tends to raise the shoe including the button piece, but, by reason of the forward feedingof the vbutton 'piecesi i mltaneously with the 4feeding of the buttonhole fly, the lbutton piece will contact with the outer wall of the guide at a point remote from the throat so that the button piece may flex readily to permit the requisite upward movement of the buttonhole fly. Preferably, the buttonholes are raised to proper button receiving' position by swinging the feeding finger upwardly as it approaches the end of its feeding movement, and, to this end, the stud` shaft 60 is provided with an arm 82 carrying an idler roll 84 riding on a cam S6 fixed to the upper surface of the table the arrangement of the parts being such that upon the forward movement of the arm 65, the roll' 84 is carried into engagement with a raised portion of the cam 86 to cause the feeding finger 70 to be elevated to the proper degree, whereas, upon the rearward movement of the arm 65, the roll `84 is upheldsomewhat from the most depressed portion of the cam 86 by the engagement of the plate 76 with the edge of the buttonhole fly.

The finger' 70 for feeding the buttonhole fly is so constructed as the retain its en gagement withy a buttonhole of the fly which it enters on its rearward movement, and the fingers 18 and 19 are retained in gripping enga-gement with the buttonhole fly until substantially the time when the finger 7() normally completes its rearward movement. It has been found in the use of this machine that, when the buttons on the button piece of a shoe are inserted in the button guide, the buttonhole fly normally occupies substantially the proper position relatively to the button guide and" its associated parts. There is, however, a slight tendency of the buttonhole fly to sag, increasing as the buttoning operations progress toward the top of a shoe. The fly is supported against this tendency by the fingers 18 and -19 while it is gripped thereby and is at Aother times supported by the finger 70. Manifestly, the less the distance by which the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly are spaced from each other, the earlier in its rearward movement will the linger 7() enter a buttonhole, so that if the buttonholes in the fly being operated upon were spaced from each other by a distance less than the interval of movement of the finger 70 and the linger was positively operated on its rearward movement, the buttonhole might be torn by the linger 7 @before the release of the fly by the fingers 18 and 19. In order toadapt the machine to operate on work in which the buttons and buttonholes are variously spaced, I provide means for operating the arm 65 carrying the finger 70, which will permit the ai si. t.

^ of a lever 96 fulcrumed on a stud 98 mounted in the yoke 267. Motion is imparted to the arm 96 by an idler roll 102 received in the peripheral groove of a cam 104 on the cam shaft 41. The lever 90 has a stud 106 extending upwardly therefrom and received in a slot in a member 108 pivoted at one end to the table 6 and having its free end normally held in a predetermined position by a spring 110 connected to the member 108 and a stop pin 112. The slot of the member 108 is substantially concentric with the axis of the arms 88 and 65. Consequently, since movement of the member 108 is prevented by the pin 112 upon movement of the link. 94 in a direction to feed the buttons and the buttonhole fly, such movement is positively communicated to the arms 88 and 65 substantially as if the link 94 were directly connecte/dto the arm 88. llVhen, however, upon the rearward movement of the arm 65, the finger 70 engages a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly prior to the completion of the return movement of the link 94, the continued movement of the link will serve merely to turn the bell-crank lever 90 about its pivot 92 against the resistance of the spring 110, thus permitting the movement of the arm 65 and finger 70 to be suspended so long as the fly is gripped by the lingers 18 and 19. Then the buttonhole fly is released by the fingers 18 and 19, the arm 65 and finger 70 complete their return movement under the control of spring 110.

lli/leans is provided for disengaging thc linger from a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly previous to the insertion of a button in the buttonhole. bodiment of such means comprises a wiper 114 forined integrally with the pusher 17 and adapted for engagement with a lug 116 projecting rearwardly from the finger 70.

.tonhole fly from the.v flnger70, the inward movement of which .is limited by the plate A. preferred em- A 76. The fin on the plate 76, however. by contact with the inner surface of the fly adjacent to the inturned hooked end of the feeding finger projecting through the buttonhole maintains the fly on the finger until the finger is positively withdrawn from the buttonhole by the wiper 114. With this construction. the buttonhole is retained in proper button receiving position by the finger 70 until the gripping fingers 18 and 19 have taken a firm hold on the fiy.

The machine is driven from a shaft journaled in standards 126 projecting upwardly from the bottom plate 2 of the machine frame, and loosely mounted on t1 shaft 125 is a pulley 127 to which motion is transmitted from any suitable source of power. The pulley 127 may be clutched to the drive shaft 125 by any suitable means7 but, as shown, such means comprises a member 224 keyed to the shaft and having a pin 128 adapted to be interposed in the path of movement of a pin 129 carried by the pulley 127. The clutch pin 128 is normally maintained by a spring or the like (not shown) in a position to connect the pulley 127 operatively to the drive shaft. A wedgeshaped cani 180 on the pin 128 which is slidable in the clutch member 224 operates upon engagement with the end of a rod 134 to disconnect the clutch member and drive shaft 125 from the pulley 127 by laterally displacing the pin 128. The rod 184 is prcferably mounted for sliding movement in standards 186 and 138 upstanding from the bottom plate 2 of the machine frame and is provided with a collar 140, between which and the standard 136 is interposed a spring 142 tending normally to move the end of the rod 134 into engagement with the cam 180 of the clutch men'iber 224 to disengage the pulley 127 from the drive shaft. rlhe clutch mechanism is manually actuated to start the machine by means preferably including a treadle (not shown) connected by a rod 144 to the free end of a lever 146 pivoted on the bottom plate 2 of the machine frame by a stud 147 `iournaled in standards 148 on the plate 2. A latch 150 is pivotally secured to the arm 146 at 152 and is provided with an upstanding lug for engagement with a lug projecting laterally from a'lever 154 also journaled on the stud 147 and adapted for engagement with the forward end of the collar of the rod 184 to withdraw the end of rod 184 from engagement with the clutch member 224 to initiate the operation of the machine. rlhe machine is 'designed to be stopped independently of the release of the treadle. by the operator. Accordingly, a stop 156 on the botton plate 2 is disposed to engage the tail of the latch upon the depression of the arm 146', therebymoving the lug on the latch 150 downwardly against the tension of a spring 158 connectedto the Ulli latch and to the standard 138 to release the lever 154 from the control of the latch, said lever when thus released being moved forwardly out of engagement with the collar 140 on the rod 134 by a spring 160 interposed between the rearward arm of the lever anl a boss on the bottom plate 2 (see Fig. 13

Ashereinbefore indicated, means is provided for controlling the clutch mechanism constructed to discontinue the operation of the machine after the performance of a predetermined number of buttoning operations. Such controlling means comprises an arm 162 pivoted to the standard 164 on the bottom plate 2 and adapted to be moved into engagement with the forward end of the collar 140 on the rod 134 (see Fig. 13), when such rod is withdrawn by actuation of the treadle rod 144, by a spring 166 disposed between a lug 168 projecting from the hub of the arm 162 and a second lug 170 extending laterally from the standard 164. )Vith this construction, it is apparent that the operation of the machine will be discontinued upon movement of the arm 162 out of engagement with the collar 140 on rod 134 (see Fig. 14). A. second arm 172 extends upwardly from the hub of the member 162 and carries an idler roll 174 adapted for engagement with an actuator sleeved on the shaft 125. As shown, the actuator comprises a cam 176 formed integrally with a ratchet wheel 178 and loose on the shaft 125. The ratchet wheel 178 is actuated by a pawl 180'on an arm 182 fulcrumed on the bottom plate 2 for movement with a second arm 183 held against a cam 184, which is fixed on the drive shaft 125, by a spring 185 connected to the bottom plate 2 and to an arm 186 fixed to the arms 182 and 183. Inasmuch as the cam 184 is constructed to actuate the arm 182 and pawl 180 once upon each rotation of the shaft, it results that the number of rotations of the drive shaft 125 before its operation is suspended, and, consequently, the number of buttoning operations performed by the machine is determined by the number of step by step movements necessary to be imparted to the ratchet wheel 178 and cam 176 before the arm 172 is actuated by the raised portion of the cam 176 to lift the arm 162 out of engagement with the rod 134. The cam 176 is, in the illustrated construction, positioned by a stop 188 engaged by a lug 190 extending laterally from the ratchet wheel 17 8. In order that the machine may be set to perform a variable number of buttoning operations, the stop 188 is made adjustable. As shown, it constitutes an extension of a tooth of a pinion 192 mounted loosely on the drive shaft 125 and meshing with a segmental gear 194 on a stud shaft 196 `iournaled in one of the uprights 126. The stud shaft 196 carries an indicator arm 198 co-acting with an indicator plate 200, which is provided with numerals to indicate the number of buttouing operations which will be performed by the machine when the indicator armis set in any of its various positions of adjustment. The indicator arm 198 is, for convenience, in setting the clutch controlling means, formed as a handle for manipulation by the operator. Retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel 178 and cam 176 is normally prevented by a detent 204 on the arm 172. wWhen, however, the arm 172 is actuated by the cam 176 to discontinue the operation of the machine, a pin 206 (see Fig. 13) carried by the arm and lying be-` neath the pa'wl 180 elevates the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 178. Inasmuch as the detent 204 is carried out of engagement with the ratchet wheel by this same movement of the arm, the cam 176 is free to be returned to set position as determined by the stop 188. A volute spring 207 coiled in a recess of the actuator between the cam 176 and ratchet wheel 178 eifects the return movement of the cam and thus automatically resets the clutch controlling mechanism upon the completion of each series of operations for which the machine is set. c

Access may be had to the operating mechanism of the machine by removing the screw 222 which secures the linlr30 to the arm 28 carried by the hub 23 of the finger. -19 and then raising the cover 6 about its pivots in the upiights 4. The coveris provided with a hook (not shown) arranged tocoact with a second hook 223 (see Fig. 12) rising from l the bottom plate 2 to limit the backward movement of the cover after it has been carried beyond a vertical position. A

The motion of the drive shaft 125 is transmitted to the cam shaft 41 by a gear 208 on the drive shaft meshing with an lidler gear 210 which is in turn intergeared with a gear 21-2 sleeved loosely on the cam shaft 41. The gear 212 is normally clutched to the cam shaft by a member 214 urged outwardly into an internal groove 215 in the gear 212 by a spring 216 and pivoted to a pin 217 received in a bore of the shaft and provided with a handle 218. The clutch member 214 has an inclined surface 220 which causes themember 214 to be moved out of engagement 4with the groove of the gear 212 when the pin 217 is drawn outwardly by manipulation of the handle 218. lt will be obvious that the op eration of the buttoning instrumentalities may be suspended at any time by the disconnection ofthe gear 212 from the cam shaft. For example, if the indicator 198 is setto discontinue the operation of the machine after the performance of eight buttoning operations, its operation may, nevertheless, be suspended after the performance of one or flung-4 ...17,-

menue.,- new.

two of any number of operations less than eight by the pulling out of the pin 217 by the handle 218. hloreover, the buttoning instrumentalities ,may be manually operated, when desired, by pulling out the pin 217 and turning the handle 218. j

The manner of operation of the machine will, it is believed, be readily comprehended from the foregoing description but may be briefly summz'uized as follows: Assuming that a right shoe is to be buttoned, the but-l tons on the button fly are, as hereinbefore pointed out, introduced into the slot 10 of the button guide 8, beginning` with the throat button. The machine stops with the button feeder 58 and the finger 70 for feeding the buttonhole fly at their rearward limits of movement. rThe operator moves the shoe forward until the throat button is carried into the recess of the button feeder and inserts the finger in the corresponding buttonhole of the buttonhole fly (see Figs. 4t and 5). Upon the initiation of the operation of the machine, the arm 65 is moved forward carrying with it the button feeder 58 and the finger 7() thereby feeding the button toward the delivery end of the slot 10 and moving the buttonhole fly to present the buttonhole engaged by the finger in position to receive the button from the guide. As the finger 70 passes through the final portion of its feeding movement, it is raised by operation of the cam 86 on the arm 82 of the shaft 60 so as to carry the upper edge of the buttonhole slightly above the crown of the button, the parts being then in the positions shown in Fig. 6. Just prior to the completion of the feeding movement 0f the button feeder 58 and finger 70, the fingers 18 and 19 begin their inward movement to grip the buttonhole fly rearwardly and forwardly of the buttonhole against the button guide and the member 20 respectively, the movement of the nger 19 being continued after the gripping of the buttonhole piece by the fingers 18 and 19, thereby. moving the forward edge of the buttonhole and the material surrounding the buttonhole across the slot 10 and transversely of the body of the fly to open the buttonhole and thrusting the member 2O away from the slot 10 of the button guide. The forward movement of the pusher 17 is initiated substantially at the same time that the fingers 18 and. 19 begin to move in, As the pusher advances, its end impinges against the upwardly curved surface 169 of the button feed lever 58 and elevates the lever from the button, which is engaged by the pusher substantially simultaneously with the completion of the movement of the finger 19. The parts are then in the post tions shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The opening of the buttonhole by the finger 19 tends to carry the buttonhole 0E the finger 70 which is fully withdrawn from the buttonhole by the operation of the wiper 114 against the lug 11G on the finger 70 upon the continued movement of the pusher 17. Simultaneously with the disengagement of the finger 79 from the buttonhole, the arm 65 begins its rearward movement thus withdrawing the finger from the plane of the buttonhole. The pusher 17 first engages the side of the button, but as the button enters the buttonhole, it is turned about its point of attachment to the button piece, the point of contact of the end of the pusher therewith moving gradually away from the ape); of the button until, after the button has been turned through an angle of substantially 90o, the end of the pusher engages the under surface of the button, as shown in Fig. 8. As the movement of the pusher 17 continues, the button is moved outwardly beyond the edges of the buttonhole and the work engaging end of the buttonhole opening finger 19. By reason of its attachment to the button piece, the button moves downwardly at the same time that it is carried outwardly by the pusher 17 in consequence of which the end surface of the pusher passes above the button and further movement of the pusher causes its end to be projected between the button and the edge of the buttonhole. It will be understood from the foregoing that there is imparted to the puher a movement additional to that ordinarily required to pass a button into a buttonhole. Such additional movement insures the complete insertion of the buttons. The rearward movement of t-he arm 65 is continued after the insertion of the first button in its corresponding buttonhole to cause the button feed lever 58 to engage the next adjacent button on the button piece and the feeding finger 70 to enter the next buttonhole of the buttonhole fly, the proper entry of the finger 70 into the buttonhole being assured by the controlling plate 76 which determines the spacing of the end of the finger from the edge of the buttonhole fly. If the finger 70 enters a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly before it has completed its rearward movement, its movement will be suspended until the buttonhole fiy is released by the grippers 18 and 19. ln such a. case, the finger 70 completes its rearward movement under control of spring 110 while the fingers 18 and 19 are being retracted, during which time the member 20 is again projected across the slot 10 of the button guide by its spring 50, and the pusher 17 and wiper 1141 are withdrawn. The machine is then ready to begin the operation of buttoning the second button.

Inasmuch as the buttons on a left shoe are curved oppositely to those on a right shoe, a left shoe will occupy a reversed position in the machine from that of a right shoe, that is, the buttons nearest the top of the button fly will be first introduced into the slot of the guide and the toe of the shoe will extend toward the loop 11 of the guide instead of toward its delivery end. Accordingly, the buttoning of the final buttons on a left shoe, that is, the buttons on the lower part of the button piece adjacent to the vamp, causes the toe of the shoe to engage the under surface of the guide. Assuming that one of the buttons near the lower part of the button fly, for example, the fourth from the vamp is being buttoned, by reason of the concave curvature of the top of the instep and the toe of the shoe and the engagement of the toe of the shoe with the button guide, the buttons intermediate between the fourth button and the vamp will normally7 lie below a line joining the delivery end of the guide with the point of the guide enga-ged by the toe of the shoe. If, therefore, the button guide were made straight, considerable strain would be imu posed on the buttons adjacent to the vamp. Moreover, the buttonhole piece which is not controlled so positively as the buttons in the guide would tend to follow the natural curvature of the shoe and the corresponding buttonholes of the piece might, therefore, be disposed so far below the normal level of the buttonholes as not to be engaged by the finger 70. In order to avoid the difficulties above mentioned, the depression 12 of the button guide is made to conform substantially with the curvature of the shoe so thatno appreciable strain is imposed on the buttons intermediate between the one being operated upon and the vamp and the corresponding buttonholes are positioned at the level ofthe guide in position for engagement by the finger 70 which moves substantially in line with the guide.

If, for example, it is desired to button seven buttons, the indicator arm 198 will be set to register with the numeral 7 on the indicator plate 200. The stop 188 will then be positioned so as to require seven step by step movements of the ratchet wheel 178 and cam 176 to`bring the raised portion of the cam 176 beneath the arm 172 to elevate the arm 162 from engagement with the rod 134 so as to stop the machine. The pawl 180 which operates the ratchet wheel is actuated by the cam 184 once upon each revolution of the drive shaft 125 and the buttoning instrumentalities are caused to perform a buttoning operation on each rotation of the shaft. Consequently, the operation of the buttoning instrumentalities will be discontinued after the performance of seven buttoning operations. Vhen the arm 172 is actuated to stop the machine, the pin 206 on the arm elevates the pawl 180 from engagement with the ratchet Wheel 17 8 and the detent 204 is lifted away from the ratchet wheel, whereupon the spring 207 returns the ratchet Wheel 178 and cam 176 to set position. Consequently, if the position of the indicator arm 198 remains unchanged and the treadle rod 144 is depressed, the machine will perform al `second series of seven buttoning operations, after which the operation of the machine will again bediscontinued.

The machine in which the invention is herein shown as embodied is adapted to op#y erate on work of widely different characteristics without adjustment or substitution of parts. For example, it is unnecessary to substitute button guides having slots of different curvatures even .when the curvatures of the lines of buttons in the button piece vary greatly inasmuch as Vthe flexibility ofV the button piece permits theI buttons to be inserted into the. slot of the guide irrespective'of the degree of curvature .of the line' of the buttons. Moreover, as hereinbefore indicated, the feeding means for the buttons and the buttonhole fly automatically accommodate themselves to variations in the spacing of the buttons and buttonholes either in the same or in different pieces of work. The button feeder disclosed herein is designed particularly for feeding round-headed buttons, such as are commonly used on shoes. It is customary, however, to employ fiat-topped buttons on gaiters, and in case the machine of my invention is to be used yfor buttoning gaiters having buttons of such character, the form of the button feeder is preferably modified to adapt it better for operation thereon. Moreover, if a machine is to be used for buttoning gaitcrs7 it may be desirable not to depress the button guide adjacent to its delivery end as hereinbefore described. v

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isz- 1. .Ina buttoning machine, means for receiving a plurality of buttons on the button piece of a shoe and buttoning instrumentalities for inserting the buttons one by one into the buttonholes of the buttonhole'fiy con# structed and arranged to button a plurality of buttons adjacent to the throat of the upper and including the throat button on a right or a left shoe.

2. In a buttoning machine, means for receiving a plurality of buttons on the button piece of a shoe and buttoning instrumentalities for moving the material of the buttonhole iy across the end of said button receiving means to permit the buttons adjacent to the throat of either a right or left shoe to enter the corresponding buttonholes.

3. In a buttoning machine, a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on the button piece of a shoe, and means for positioning a buttonhole 'fly with the throat buttonhole beyond the end of said guide for reception of thethroat button.

4. In a buttoning machine, a 1outton guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on the button piece of a shoe, and mechanism for buttoning the buttons acent to the throat of a shoe Which is presented to the machine With the buttons nearest the upper edge of the buttonhole fly in advanced position in the slot of the guide, said mechanism constructed and arranged to move the material of the buttonhole fly transversely across the end of said slot.

5. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of. buttons on a button piece, means for passing the buttons on the button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, and means operable on the buttonhole fly at points adjacent to a buttonhole and oppositely disposed re latively to the buttonhole to restrain the fly from movement in the direction in Which a button moves in entering the huttonhole.

Y 6. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a pusher for passing the buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly and fingers operable on the buttonhole fly along the opposite side edges of a buttonhole in the fly to restrain the buttonhole fly from movement in the di'- rection in Which a button moves in entering the buttonhole.

7. In a but-toning machine, means for passing a plurality of buttons on a button iece successively into the buttonholes of a uttonhole fly, means for feeding the buttons successively to the passing means, means for feeding the fly to present a buttonhole in position to receive a button, and means for clamping the fly to retain the buttonhole in such position.

8. In a machine for operating on shoe uppers, means for feeding a buttonhole fly, and means for clamping the fly at a point in advance of the forward limit of movement of the feeding means.

9. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a but-ton guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, spaced members operable toward and from the guide adjacent to the delivery end of the slot, means for guiding a buttonhole fly intermediate between said members and the button guide, means for feeding the huttonhole fly to present the buttonholes of the fly successively intermediate between the paths of movement of said members, .inea-ns for moving said members into engagement with the fly on opposite sides of the buttonholesv successively, a movable member co-operating With one of said spaced members to carry the material adjacent the buttonholes across the end of the slot and means for passing the buttons on the but-ton piece into the buttonholes of the fly.

l0, In a buttoning machine, the c0mbiposite sides of a buttonhole in the fly intermediale between the ends of the buttonhole, and means for passing the button into the buttonhole.

ll. In a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a pluralityof buttons on a button piece, of means for guiding a buttonhole fly in a plane substantially parallel to the axes of the buttons in the guide, and means for effecting relative movements of the hutton piece and the fly to pass the buttons on the button piece successively into the button holes of the fly.'

l2. In a buttoning machine, the combination With a button guide having a curved slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, of means for guiding a buttonhole fly in a curved path substantially parallel to the slot of the button guide, and means for manipulating the buttons and the fly to insert the buttons on the button piece into the buttonholes of the fly.

13. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of but* tons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly comprising a feeding member for the buttons and a pusher operable on the head of each of the buttons to pass it into the corresponding buttonhole.

ll. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly comprising a guide having a slot to receive the buttons and a memher constructed and arranged for engagement with the heads of the buttons to pass them into the buttonholes.

l5. In a. buttoning machine, buttoning instrumentalities comprising a member havA ing movement of a character to push a button on a button piece into a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly and constructed and arranged to pass out of operative relationship to the button upon continuation of such movement after the button has entered the buttonhole.

16. In a buttoning machine, buttoning instrumentalities comprising a pusher for passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, said instrumentalities being constructed and operated to insert the buttons completely into the buttonholes, and n'ieans for feeding the buttons one by one to the pusher,

17. In a buttoning machine, a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece and means supported in its movement by the guide for passing the buttons on the button piece completely into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fl y18. In a buttoning machine, a member 'for pushing a button on a button piece into a buttonhole of a buttonhole ily and operating means for the member constructed to move the button engaging end of the member` into the buttonhole With its whole cross-sectional dimension interposed between the button and the edge of the buttonhole to insure the complete insertion of the button into the buttonhole.

19. In a buttoning machine, a button lguide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece and a pusher coacting vvith said guide for passing the buttons on the button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly by engagement with their heads, said pusher being constructed and arranged to turn the buttons about their points of attachment to the button piece.

20. In a buttoning machine, a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece and a pusher movable angularly of said slot for passing the buttons on the button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly.

21. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding ab'uttonhole fly in a plane substantially parallel to the axes oit the buttons in the button guide, means for presenting the buttonholes of the fly suc cessively at the delivery end of said slot, and means for passing the buttons on the button piece into the buttonholes of the fly.

22. In a buttoning machine, mea-ns for passing a button on a button piece into a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, and means for opening the buttonhole comprising a finger disposed for engagement with one of the edges of the buttonhole and operable to prevent movement of said edge in the direction of movement of the button in entering the buttonhole so as to insure the complete introduction of the button into the buttonhole.

23'. In a buttoning machine, buttonhole opening means ycomprising a: member having a portion adapted for engagement with the edge of a buttonhole, and means for pass` ing a button into the buttonholeA past the edge of the buttonhole and the vWork engaging portion of said member.

24. In a buttoning machine, means for opening a buttonhole oil" a buttonhole comprising a member having its end positioned for engagement Withthe edge of a buttonhole and a pusher movable transversely of the buttonhole fly for passing a button into the buttonhole past the edge of the buttonhole and the end of said member.

25. In a buttoning machine, buttonhole opening means comprising a member having a portion adapted for engagement With the edge of a buttonhole, and means for passing a button on a button piece into the buttonhole operable to turn the button about its point of attachment to the button piece and to move the entire head of the button beyond the edge of the buttonhole and the Work engaging portion of said member.

26. In a buttoning machine, means for successively passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, and means for opening the buttonholes of the fly by engagement with their edges, said means being constructed and arranged to remain'in engagement With said buttonholes to keep them open and substantially unobstructed during passage of the buttons.

27. In a buttoning machine, means for successively passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the b-uttonholes of a buttonhole fly, means for feeding the fiy, and means independent of the feeding means for the fly for opening the buttonholes.

28. In a buttoning machine, means for successively passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a f buttonhole fly, means for feeding the fly, and means movable transversely of the direction of feeding movement of the fly for opening the buttonholes.

29. In a button'ing machine, means for successively passing a plurality ot' but-tons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, means for feeding the'buttons onerby one to the passing means, and means for opening thebuttonholes of the fly `operable to move one of the edges of the buttonholes transversely of the fly. f

30. In a buttoning machine, Ameans for successively passingjj a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, means for feeding the" ily, and means independent of the feeding means for moving one of the edges of the buttonholes transversely of the fly to open the buttonholes.

31. In a buttoning machine, the combination With a button guide having, a slot to receive a plurality of buttons ona button piece, of means comprisinga,member movable substantially in the plane of the button guide for opening a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, and means for passing a button from the guide into the buttonhole.

32. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide havingI a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a4 button piece, spaced membersoperable toward'and from the guide adjacent to the delivery end of theslot, means for guiding a buttonhole fly intermediatev between said members and the button guide, means for presentingvthe buttonlioles of the fly successively at the delivery end of said slot, means connarisingl said spaced members for opening the buttonholes, and means for passing the buttons on the button piece into the buttonholes of the fly.

33. fn a buttoning machine. the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, spaced fingers operable toward and from the guide adjacent to the delivery end of the slot, means for guiding a bnttonhole fly intermediate between said members and the button guide, a button feeder, a device for feedingthe fly to present the buttonholes successively at the delivery end of the slot, means for nloving` one of said fingers transverse y of the delivery end of the slot to open the buttonholes, and means for passing the buttons on the button piece inte the buttonholes of the fly.

34. l'n a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to re ceive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding a buttonliole fly in a plane substantially parallel to the axes of the buttons in the button guide, means for successively moving one of the edges of the buttonholes transversely of the fiy to open the buttonholes, and means for passing the buttons of the but-ton piece successively into the buttonholes of the fly.

35. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to re ceive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for feeding a buttonhole fly to present the buttonholes of the fiy successively at the delivery end of the slot, means for gripping the fly rearwardly of the buttonholes against the button guide, means for moving the forward edges of the buttonholes transversely of the fly to open the buttonholes, and means for passing the buttons of the button piece into the buttonholes of the fly.`

36. In a buttoning machine,l the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a Aplurality of buttons on a button piece, means for positioning a buttonhole fly transversely of the plane of the button guide, and means for effecting relative movements of the buttons and the button hole fly to pass the buttons on the button piece successively into the buttonholes of the fly.

37. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for positioning a buttonhole fly transversely of the plane of the button guide, means for opening the buttonholes of the fly, and means for successively passing the buttons on the button piece into the buttonholes of the fly.

38. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having' a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding a buttonliole fly relatively to the button guide, and a pusher movable angularly of the slot of the button guide for passingl the buttons on the buttmi piece successively into the buttonholes of the fly.

39. fn a buttoning machine, the combinan tion of a button guide having a slot to re ceive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding' a buttonhole fly relatively Ato the button guide, means for opening the bnttonholes of the fly successively, and means movable angularly of the D slot of the button guide for passing the buttons on the button piece successively into the buttonholes of the fly.

e0. ln a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece and having the Wall on one side of the slot extended beyond the Wall on the other side of the slot, means for guiding a bnttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, and a pusher movable angularly of the slot for passing the buttons across the forward end of the shorter Wall of the guide into the buttonholes of the fly.

4l. In a buttoning machine. the combination With a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, a button feeder, a finger for feeding the fly to present the buttonholes of the fly at the delivery end of the slot, and a pusher movable angularly Of the slot at its delivery end and operable to pass the buttons from the slot of the guide into the buttonholes of the fly.

4t2. ln a buttoning machine, the combina` tion of a button guide having a slot to re` ceive a plurality of buttons on a button piece. means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button piece, means movable substantially in the plane of the button engaging surface of the button guide for gripping the fly at one side of a buttonhole, and means operable on the fly at the other side of the buttonhole to effect movement of such portionof the fly transversely of the main body of the fly to open the buttonhole, and melans for passing a button into the buttonho e.

43. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button piece, a finger movable substantially in the plane of the button engaging surface of the button guide for gripping the fly adjacent to one side of a butt-onhole, and grippers for engaging the fly at the other side of the buttonhole, said grippers being movable across the slot of the button guide to effect movement of the fly at such side of the buttonhole transversely of the main body of the fly to open the buttonhole, and a pusher for passing a button into the buttonhole.

44. In a buttoning machine, the combination of means for supporting a button, means for gripping a buttonhole fly on opposite sides of a buttonhole in the fly, said means comprising a member movable transversely of the fly to open the buttonhole, and means for passing the button into the buttonhole.

45. In a buttoning machine, means for apening a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly comprising a member adapted for engagementJ with the fly at one side of the buttonhole, a finger carried by said member for gripping the fly at the other side of said buttonhole, and means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

46. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding av buttonhole fly relatively to the button piece, means for gripping the fly at one side of a buttonhole against the button guide adjacent to the delivery end of said slot, means movable across the end of the slot for opening the buttonhole, and means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

47. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, a yielding member disposed across said slot. yielding means for gripping a buttonhole fly rearwardly of a buttonhole against said guide, means for gripping the fly forwardly ofthe buttonhole against said yielding member and moving such portion of the fly and said yielding member transversely of said slot to open the buttonhole, and means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

48. In a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, of means for gripping a buttonhole fiy adjacent to one side of a buttonhole, and means operable on the fly at the other side of the buttonhole to eect movement of such side of the buttonhole transversely of the fly to open the buttonhole. and means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

49. In a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, of means ffor opening a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly comprising a member normally positioned across the delivery end of said slot, and

` means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

50. In a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, of means or guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, a member normally disposed across the slot of the button guide, means for gripping the fly adjacent to one side of a buttonhole against said member and moving the member and such portion of the fly across the slot of the button guide to open the buttonhole, and means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

5l. In a buttoning machine, the combina tion With a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons o-n a button piece, of means for guiding a buttonhole fly in a plane substantially parallel to the aXes of the buttons in said slot, a member normally disposed across the delivery end of the slot of the button guide and movable away from the slot, means for gripping the fly adjacent to one side of a butto-nhole against said member and moving said member away from said slot toopen the buttonhole, and means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

52. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, a member for preventing the escape of the buttons from said slot, means for passing a button in the guide into a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, and means co-acting with said member to open the buttonhole.

53. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece. a member disposed transversely across the end of said slot to prevent the escape of the buttons from said slot, and means constructed and arranged for manipulation by the operator to move said member avvay from said slot to permit the removal of the buttons from the slot.

54. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, means for positioning a buttonhole fly relatively to the button holder with the long dimension of a buttonhole disposed throughout itsl entire extent substantially parallel to the axis of the button, and means for effecting relative movement of a button and the fly to pass the button into the buttonhole.

55. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, of a guide for a buttonhole ily constructed to position a buttonhole of the fly with its long dimension disposed substantially parallel to the axis of a button in the guide, and means for passing a button into the buttonhole.

56. In a buttoning machine, buttoning instrumentalities including means for engaging and passing a button on a button piece into a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, and means for feeding the button to said passing means.

57. In a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, of a button feeder and a pusher separate from the button feeder for engaging the buttons and passing them into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly.

`58. In a buttoning machine, means for passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, button feeding means, and means for feeding the iiy operable in a plane offset laterally from the plane 0f operation of the button feeding means.

59. In a buttoning machine, a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, a button feeder movable substantially in the plane of the slot of the guide, and a finger for feeding a buttonhole fly operable in a plane offset from the slot of the guide.

60. In a buttoning machine, ineans for passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece successively7 into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, and feeding means for the button piece and the fly movable at substantially equal rates of speed.

6l. In a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having arslot to receive a plurality of buttons, of means for feeding the buttons, means for feeding a buttonhole fly, and means separate from the button feeding means for passing the buttons into the buttonholes of the fly.

62. In a buttoning machine, a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button piece, means for feeding the buttons, means for feeding the iiy, and common operating means for the button feeding means and the feeding means for the fly.

63. In a buttoning machine, a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button piece, means for feeding the buttons, means for 'feeding the fly. an arm upon which the button feeding means and the feeding means for the fly are mounted, and means for operating said arm.

64. In a buttoning machine, means for inserting plurality of buttons on a button piece'into the butto-nholes of a buttonhole fly, an arm, members carried by said arm for feeding` the buttons and -fhe fly, means for operating the arm to impart feeding movement t0 said members, and means for effecting relative movement of said feeding members.

65. In a buttoning machine, means for inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, an arm, members carried by said arm for feeding the buttons and the fly, means for operating said arm to impart feeding movement to said members, and cam means for moving the feeding means for the fly relatively to the button feeding means and transversely of the direction of feeding movement of the fly.

66. in a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a butt-on hole fly, and means for feeding the buttons to the inserting means by engagement vvith their heads.

67. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly and comprising a button guide having a slot to receive the buttons and means for feeding the buttons in the slot of the guide by engagement With their heads.

68. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, means for feeding the buttons to the passing mechanism, and means for disengaging the feeding means from the buttons.

69. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes if a buttonhole fiy and comprising means for feeding the buttons by engagement with their heads and means for lifting the feeding means to disengage it from the heads of the buttons.

70. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, comprising a button feeder and a pusher for disengaging the buttons from the feeder and passing` them into the buttonholes.

7l. In a buttoning machine, the combination With a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, of' means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, means for feeding the fly, and means for controlling the feeding means for the fly constructed and arranged for engage-I ment with the fly. Y

72. In a buttoning machine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons, of means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, means constructed and arranged for engagement with the buttonholes of the fiy to feed the fly, and means positioned by thc fly for controlling the movements of the feeding means for the fly.

73. In a machine for operating on shoe uppers the combination of means for guiding a buttonhole fly, a finger for feeding the fly by engagement with the buttonholes of the fly and a controller for spacing the end of the linger at a predetermined distance from the edge of the Hy.

74. In a buttoning machine, the combination vvith a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, of means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, means for feeding the Hy by engagement with the buttonholes of the fly, and a controllerl constructed for engagement with the edge of the Hy to space the feeding means for the fly by a predetermined distance from its edge.

75. In a buttoning machine, means for passing the butt-ons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, and means for raising the Hy to present a buttonhole of the Hy in position to receive a button.

76. In a buttoning machine, means for passing the buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly and mechanism constructed and arranged to feed the fly intermittently and to move the fly upon each feeding movement in a direction transverse to its feeding movement to present the buttonholes of the fly successively in button receiving position.

7T. In a buttoning machine, the combination With a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, of means for guiding a buttonhole Hy relatively to the button guide, means for moving a button from the button guide into a buttonhole of the fly, and means for raising the fly to position the buttonhole relatively to the button moving means to facilitate the insertion of the button into the buttonhole. n

78. In buttoning machine. the combination with a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece. of means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, means at the delivery end of said slot for inserting the buttons of the button piece into the buttonholes of the fly, and means for 'feeding the Hy to carry the button holes of the fly into operative relation with said inserting means constructed and arranged to elevate the buttonholes of tne at the delivery end of said slot to facilitate the insertion of the buttons into the buttonholes.

79. In a buttoningmachine, the combination with a button guide having a slot to recivc aA plurality of buttons on a button piece, of means for guiding a buttonhole fly relatively to the button guide, means at the delivery end of said slot for inserting the buttons on the button piece into the buttonholes of the fly. andY a feeding finger constructed for engagement With the buttonholes of the Hy and operable to elevate the Hy adjacent to the delivery end of the slot 'move the feeding means for the fly into engagement with the fly.

81. In a buttoning machine, the combination of a button guide havinga slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece, means for guiding a buttonhole fly in a plane substantially parallel to the axes "of the buttons in the button guide, means for feeding the Hy by engagement with the buttonholes of the fly, means adjacent to the delivery end of the slot of the button guide for passing a button on the button piece into a buttonhole of the fly, and cam means for operating the feeding means for the fly upwardly adjacent to the delivery end of the slot to position the buttonhole With its upper end spaced above the crown of the button to facilitate the insertion of the button into the buttonhole. t j

82. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on the button piece of a shoe into the buttonholes of the buttonhole fly comprising feeding means for the buttonhole fly bperable to 'support the buttonhole fly.

83. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly comprising a finger adapted to project into a buttonhole of the' fly and operable to support the fly.

84. In a machine for operating on shoe uppers, a guide for a buttonhole fly, means for spacing the 'fly from the guide, and feeding means for the Hy constructed to pass through a buttonhole of the fly into contact with the guide.

85. In a buttoning machine, a button guide having a slot to receive a plurality of buttons on a button piece and having an npstanding portion at one side of said slot, means `for passing the buttons on the but,- ton piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, and means operable along the side of said upstanding portion opposite from said slot for feeding the Hy.

86. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting but-tons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole Hy and comprising a button guide having a slot to receive a Aplurality of buttons on a button piece, a member disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the button guide for guiding the fly, means for spacing the fly from said parts, and means for feeding the liy arranged to project through a buttonhole of the fly intoY contact With one of said parts.

87. ln a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly and comprising means for guiding a buttonhole fly, a finger for feeding the y by engagement with a buttonhole of the fly, a controller for the finger, and a part on the controller for spacing the fly from the guiding means.

88. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for successively inserting buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly and comprising means for guiding a buttonhole fly, means for feeding the fly, means for urging the feeding means toward the guiding means, and means for limiting the movement of the feeding means toward the guiding means.

89. In a machine for operating on shoe uppers, a guide for a buttonhole fly, a finger for feeding the buttonhole fly by engagement with the buttonholes of the fly, means for urging the linger toward the guide, and a controller operable to locate the Work engaging portion of the finger at a predetermined distance from the edge of the fly and to limit the movement of the finger toward the guide.

90. ln a. machine for operating on shoe uppers, means for yfeeding a buttonhole fly by successive engagement With the buttonholes of the fly, and means for maintaining the buttonhole fly against movement during movement of the feeding means from one buttonhole to another.

91. In a buttoning machine, means for inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly comprising feeding means for the buttonhole Hy movable in one direction to feed the buttonhole fly and in t-he opposite direction to engage a fresh portion of the buttonhole fly, and means for retaining the buttonhole fly against movement during the last-mentioned movement of the feeding means.

92. ln a buttoning machine, means for passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, a finger for feeding the fly, and means for moving the linger away from a buttonhole prior to the introduction of a button therein.

93. In a buttoning machine, means for passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a button-hole ily, means for feeding the fly by engagement With the buttonholes of the fly, means for operating the feeding means, and means separate from said operating inet/,ocr

means for removing the feeding means from the buttonholes.

94. ln a buttoning machine, a pusher for passing a plurality of buttons on a button piece successively into the buttonholes of a huttonhole fly, linger for feeding the fly by engagement with 'the buttonholes of the fly, and means carried by the pusher for removing the finger from the buttonholes.

95. ln a buttoning machine, means for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a hutten piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly comprising means for feeding the fly by engagement with a buttonhole of the fly constructed and arranged to retain its engagement with a buttonhole which it' has once entered until the buttonhole is presented in button receiving position.

96. ln a buttoning machine, means for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly comprising means for feeding the fly by engagement with the buttonholes of the fly, and means for operating the feeding means forwardly and rearwardly, said feeding means being constructed and arranged to retain its engagement With a buttonhole which: it enters on its rearward movement until after a subsequent `forward movement.

97, ln a machine for operating on shoe uppers, means for feeding a buttonhole fly by engagement With the buttonholes of the fly, means foropeiating the feeding means through a distance equal to the maximum spacing of the buttonholes, and means for gripping the fly operable to release the fly substantially simultaneously With the completion of the rearward movement of said operating means, the operating means being constructed and arranged to permit the movement of the feeding means to be suspended upon its engagement with a buttonhole prior to the completion of its rearward movement and to continue the movement of the feeding means after the release of the fly by the gripping means.

98. ln a buttoning machine, means for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a button-hole fly comprising means for feeding the fly controlled by the fly.

99. In a buttoning machine` means for successively inserting a plurality of huttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a fly comprising means for gripping the fly, and means for feeding the fly constructed to move the fly rearwardly after release of the fly by the gripping means.

100. In a buttoning machine, means for successively inserting a plurality of buttons on a button piece into the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly comprising gripper 

